A shale gas well is seen in May 2011 in Lebien, Poland, where Lane Energy Poland company drilled to assess economic viability of shale gas deposits, reported to be substantial in Poland.

A shale gas well is seen in May 2011 in Lebien, Poland, where Lane Energy Poland company drilled to assess economic viability of shale gas deposits, reported to be substantial in Poland.

Photo: Andrzej.J. Gojke, Associated Press

A shale gas well is seen in May 2011 in Lebien, Poland, where Lane... Photo-5723116.77724 - Beaumont Enterprise

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A derrick mast stands behind a spare capped well head at San Leon Energy Plc's Chopin-1 shale gas exploration well in Pinczow, Poland, on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011.

A derrick mast stands behind a spare capped well head at San Leon Energy Plc's Chopin-1 shale gas exploration well in Pinczow, Poland, on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011.

Photo: John Guillemin, Bloomberg

A derrick mast stands behind a spare capped well head at San Leon... Photo-5723113.77724 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Poland Deputy Environment Minister Piotr Wozniak at the State Geological Institute in Warsaw presents a report by the institute that says that Poland's estimated recoverable shale gas reserves are between 346 and 768 billion cubic meters, below expectations, on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Poland is hoping that unconventional gas will help to break its dependence on Russian gas imports. less

Poland Deputy Environment Minister Piotr Wozniak at the State Geological Institute in Warsaw presents a report by the institute that says that Poland's estimated recoverable shale gas reserves are between 346 ... more

Samples of shale rocks and maps of Poland's shale gas deposits and exploration licenses are displayed at the State Geological Institute in Warsaw, Poland on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 during the presentation of the institute's report, which estimated the nation's recoverable shale gas reserves at between 346 and 768 billion cubic meters, below expectations. Poland is hoping that unconventional gas will help to break its dependence on Russian gas imports. less

Samples of shale rocks and maps of Poland's shale gas deposits and exploration licenses are displayed at the State Geological Institute in Warsaw, Poland on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 during the presentation of ... more

A rig hand removes drill pipe from a natural gas well owned by EQT Corp. at a hydraulic fracturing site located atop the Marcellus shale rock formation in Washington Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. Output from shale deposits including the Marcellus surged 10-fold between 2005 and 2013, to account for a third of the country's gas production, government data show. The increase in production is bringing development to an economically depressed region that lies atop the Marcellus shale, a rock formation that produces more natural gas than Saudi Arabia. less

A rig hand removes drill pipe from a natural gas well owned by EQT Corp. at a hydraulic fracturing site located atop the Marcellus shale rock formation in Washington Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. Output from ... more

A yard sign in front of Michael and Susan Knoll's North Texas home describes their feelings toward natural-gas drilling near residential areas of the Barnett Shale.

A yard sign in front of Michael and Susan Knoll's North Texas home describes their feelings toward natural-gas drilling near residential areas of the Barnett Shale.

Photo: Ronnie Crocker, Houston Chronicle

A yard sign in front of Michael and Susan Knoll's North Texas... Photo-5723122.77724 - Beaumont Enterprise

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An anti-fracking protester stands on the top of a truck carrying chemicals to the Barton Moss gas fracking facility on January 13, 2014 in Barton, England. Environmental protesters and anti-gas fracking campaigners blocked roads and climbed on trucks arriving at the Barton Moss gas exploration site. less

An anti-fracking protester stands on the top of a truck carrying chemicals to the Barton Moss gas fracking facility on January 13, 2014 in Barton, England. Environmental protesters and anti-gas fracking ... more

Photo: Christopher Furlong, Getty Images

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Police officers restrain an anti-fracking protester standing on the top of a truck carrying chemicals to the Barton Moss gas fracking facility on January 13, 2014 in Barton, England. Environmental protesters and anti gas fracking campaigners blocked roads and climbed on trucks arriving at the Barton Moss gas exploration site. less

Police officers restrain an anti-fracking protester standing on the top of a truck carrying chemicals to the Barton Moss gas fracking facility on January 13, 2014 in Barton, England. Environmental protesters ... more

Great Britain Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Total Oil Depot shale drilling site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in England on January 13, 2014. French company Total confirmed it will invest about £30 million in the shale drilling project in Gainsborough, and it is believed to be the first major energy firm to invest in U.K. fracking. Prime Minister David Cameron indicated councils would receive a significant financial boost from the business rates collected from controversial shale gas schemes, with local authorities receiving 100 percent of the business rates, double the usual 50 percent. less

Great Britain Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Total Oil Depot shale drilling site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in England on January 13, 2014. French company Total confirmed it will invest about £30 ... more

Great Britain Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Total Oil Depot shale drilling site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in England on January 13, 2014. French company Total confirmed it will invest about £30 million in the shale drilling project in Gainsborough, and it is believed to be the first major energy firm to invest in U.K. fracking. Prime Minister David Cameron indicated councils would receive a significant financial boost from the business rates collected from controversial shale gas schemes, with local authorities receiving 100 percent of the business rates, double the usual 50 percent. less

Great Britain Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Total Oil Depot shale drilling site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in England on January 13, 2014. French company Total confirmed it will invest about £30 ... more

Protesters demonstrate as Great Britain Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Total Oil Depot shale drilling site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in England on January 13, 2014. French company Total confirmed it will invest about £30 million in the shale drilling project in Gainsborough, and it is believed to be the first major energy firm to invest in UK fracking. Prime Minister David Cameron indicated councils would receive a significant financial boost from the business rates collected from controversial shale gas schemes, with local authorities receiving 100 percent of the business rates, double the usual 50 percent. less

Protesters demonstrate as Great Britain Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Total Oil Depot shale drilling site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in England on January 13, 2014. French company Total confirmed ... more

Anti-fracking activists demonstrate near the Cuadrilla exploratory drilling site in Balcombe, England, as campaigners set up a six-day "Reclaim the Power" action camp outside the village on Friday Aug.16, 2013. Energy company Cuadrilla Resources Ltd. said it temporarily suspended drilling at an exploration site in southern England amid protests from residents and environmentalists opposed to shale gas extraction. less

Anti-fracking activists demonstrate near the Cuadrilla exploratory drilling site in Balcombe, England, as campaigners set up a six-day "Reclaim the Power" action camp outside the village on Friday Aug.16, ... more

Oil wells are pumped in the Midway-Sunset oil field in Fellows, Calif. in January 2013. The Monterey Shale, largely untouched territory near Midway-Sunset, could represent the future of California's oil industry - and a potential arena for conflict between drillers and the state's powerful environmental interests. less

Oil wells are pumped in the Midway-Sunset oil field in Fellows, Calif. in January 2013. The Monterey Shale, largely untouched territory near Midway-Sunset, could represent the future of California's oil ... more

Photo: JIM WILSON, NYT

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Cattle rest on a field near Helena, Texas in Karnes County, a key area of the prolific Eagle Ford Shale.

Cattle rest on a field near Helena, Texas in Karnes County, a key area of the prolific Eagle Ford Shale.

Photo: Jerry Lara, Associated Press

Cattle rest on a field near Helena, Texas in Karnes County, a key... Photo-5723133.77724 - Beaumont Enterprise

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Warning signs are required around the wellhead during a frac job at a well on a ranch southwest of Ben Bolt, Texas. The well, located near the Jim Wells and Duvall County line, was drilled to a depth of over one mile in September 2013. less

Warning signs are required around the wellhead during a frac job at a well on a ranch southwest of Ben Bolt, Texas. The well, located near the Jim Wells and Duvall County line, was drilled to a depth of over ... more

Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News

Warning signs are required around the wellhead during a frac job at... Photo-5723134.77724 - Beaumont Enterprise